The Lower Lights

Companion's Log Stardate: Dec 24-30, 2019 You call this Christmas Eve, Idaho? This is short-sleeve weather! Seriously I went short-sleeved on the 24th. Now literally proving everyone I meet right, they all always say "so you're used to the cold then" and "so this is like summer to you" when they find out I'm from Michigan. There's light fluffy snow now which is nice, but too little too late Idaho. We had a zone breakfast on Christmas Eve morning. Sounds nice, right? Yeah that's what I thought but turns out it was all a ruse to trick me into more awkward mingling! As if I didn't have enough of that at mission conference! It was okay though, I got to hide out in the kitchen flipping pancakes while everyone else played football and stuff. It was fun. Then Jeanne took us to the hospital to deliver all the blankets we've been tying to Nicu! Later we went to the Grace-Lutheran church with Kathy (rake a difference lady) for the Christm...

Companion's Log  Stardate: Dec 17-23, 2019 After a good ol p-day of sledding and dnd, we went caroling/tracting with some people from our ward. Some people were still clearly not interested in hearing us sing a second verse but other people were really touched and love it! It was super awesome I wish I could always tract like that! So we had an appointment set up with Jessica, but when we came she wasn't home. So we went to a nearby McDonald's to use the bathroom and send some texts, try to figure out what we could do next. Then guess who walked in? Jessica! It may not seem like much but we got to appreciate the little tender mercies and miracles. Sister Randall shared a really cool thought at a lesson a few weeks ago. About how with the first miracle Jesus performed, at the wedding, He knew, Mary and the servants knew, but the master of the feast was completely oblivious to the fact that a miracle had happened. He just thought there was some really good wine, never ...

Companion's Log Stardate: Dec 10-16, 2019 So we (almost) put someone on date this week! Her name is Kayleigh, we've been trying to meet with her for about a month and a half now. We went over the baptismal interview questions and she's way ready but just needs to find out when her family can come. We didn't teach her at all but it's still pretty cool. She's been married to an rm for like 2 years and has had the lessons before. Sometimes it just takes time, she wanted to make the decision for herself which is super awesome! The Light the World prompt on Thursday was to interpret how you feel about Jesus Christ through some creative outlet, so I got a chance to create this painting for Isaiah 49:15-16. I love that verse and have been meaning to draw something for it for literally years (you'll like this one Hermana Potter)! Since being on my mission and being completely separated from social media, all influences, and any other artist to compare myself to...

Companion's Log Stardate: Dec 4-9, 2019 We asked a woman, while tracting, if she'd heard of Light the World. She said "yup, Jesus did that, he already lit the world." Oh so I guess our job is done? I really like how some of the Light the World prompts are about helping others, helping people around the world and also people close to you like your family. But some prompts are more personal, about helping yourself find the Light of Christ first before you try to spread that light to others.  So I've really noticed how my brain is totally in missionary mode now. Suddenly everything has a missionary purpose: light the world and Christmas parties, in fact all youth and adult activities are solely things we can invite people to. What else would they be for? But not everyone shares that missionary brain, it's not a priority to them, or they actually never think about it. But at dinner I met a very missionary-minded 9 year old and she gave me like 3 referral...

Companion's Log Stardate: Nov 26-Dec 3, 2019 So for interviews this transfer President Southward wants to instead spend 30 minutes doing missionary work with each companionship. Well he's got a car so we took advantage of that opportunity to go around delivering plates of treats with invitations to our ward Christmas parties. One invitation was to Kathy so we got to introduce her to president. She told us we helped raise over $8000 for the free health clinic with Rake a Difference!  So my "permanent" retainer broke and I had to go get it fixed which ended up taking forever, and our appointments for that day canceled. We went to the family history center for Sister Randall to do college hour but it turns out they were closed early. But it all worked out in the end because there's this referral we've been missing for weeks. She was never home every time we tried. But as we were walking home we saw her pull up and go inside and we were like !!!!! We...